ENT Flashcards
What options do you have for analgesia in a child with otitis media where antibiotics are not indicated?
Paracetamol/ ibuprofen for ALL
Analgeisic ear drops for a few who are struggling - OTIGO (Phenzone is NSAID and lidocaine)
- Drops reduce ABx use and give good pain relief
How do you describe the natural history of otitis media?
Most better in 3 days
Very few persist past 7 days
What features make a child higher risk in otitis media?
Bilateral infection <2
Child with otorrhoea
Anyone else low risk
When could you not use otigo ear drops?
TM perforation
Otorrhoea
Immediate ABx precription
What is first line ABx for otitis media?
1st: Amoxicillin for 5-7 days
2nd: Clarithomycin for 5-7 days
If a child has 2-3 days of ABX for otitis media and is getting worse, what is the next approrpiate ABx management step?
Co-amoxiclav
How do you distinguish between otitis media and otitis externa? Name 3 features for each.
Both: Pain, discharge, reduced hearing
Otitis externa: Hurts to touch ear or tragus, discharge/ pain similar time
+ Itch
+ More common in adults
swimming/ ear plugs/ hearing aids/ eczema. instrumentation
Otitis media: Pain comes first, discharge a few days later
+ Preceeding UTRI
+ More common children
How do you manage treatment failure in otitis externa?
Swab
- Consider fungal infection and treat for this also
Name 3 signs of malignant otitis externa?
Infection spreads (can cause osteomyelitis of temporal bone)
- Unremitting disproportionate ear pain, headache, purulent otorrhoea, fever, or malaise.
Vertigo.
Profound conductive hearing loss.
- Fever + systemically unwell, facial nervy palsy, granulation tissue/ bone visible in TM
ENT emergency - same day referral
In addition to malignant otitis externa name 3 indications for referral to ENT in otitis externa?
Complete canal stenosis - wick needed
Complete occlusion with debris
Cholesteatoma with attic perforation
(May not need to be seen same day)
Maligant otitis externa - seen same day
What are the NICE criteria for a diagnosis of otitis externa?
1 symptom (Pain, pain on tragus or pinna, jaw pain, ear discharge, itch or hearing loss)
2 signs (Tenderness tragus or pinna, red and oedmatous ear canal, debris and discharge, TM erythem, tender lymphadenitis, conductive hearing loss)
What is the definition of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and how should it be managed?
Develops in under 3 days, no other cause found
< 30 days ago - Same day ENT review
> 30 days - ENT 2ww referral
Which way does webes test localise in conductive/ sensorineural hearing loss?
Webers test lateralises to:
- Same side as a conductive loss
- Opposite side to a sensorineural loss
What is the role of steroids in sudden sensorineural hearing loss?
Helpful if within 48 hours onset
Unlikely to be beneficial after 14 days
What % of sore throats improve within 7 days (viral and bacterial)
85%
(1% complication rate, ABx don’t change this)
What is the optimal scoring system to use for sore throat?
FeverPain - Better, gives lower ABx prescription rates
What are the red flags in tonsilitis?
Unilateral symptoms
Smoking
Tonsilitis is rare in over 45’s
(Possible oropharangeal cancer, linked with HPV infection)
How may quinsy (peritonsilar abscess) present? Name 5 possible symptoms and 2 signs
Often complication tonsilitis
Sore throat, fever, offensive breath, voice changes, difficulty opening mouth (trismus), drooling, neck pain, earache
Signs: Uvula deviation, unilateral swelling (often can’t see pus)
How should quinsy (peritonsilar abcess) be managed?
Same day ENT review (often IVABx, needle aspiration)
What is geographic tongue - how should patients be advised to manage?
Loss of hair/ papillae from tongue
Leads to red patches of different sizes
Self resolves in days-weeks up to years. Not an infection
Name 3 differentials for loss of smell/ taste?
Viral URTI
Head trauma
Chronic sinus inflammation
Nasal polys
Radiotherapy/ chemical/ drug exposure
Alzeihmers
What is the definition of otitis media with effusion?
Otitis media with effusion (OME), also known as ‘glue ear’, is characterized by a collection of fluid within the middle ear space without signs of acute inflammation.
What age is OME most common and how does it usually present?
6mths-4yrs
Presents with hearing loss, mild intermittent pain with fullness or popping
Over 50% may follow episode of otitis media
Name 3 otoscopy findings in OME?
Can be normal
OR
- Abnormal (yellow/ amber or blue) color to drum
- Loss of light reflex
- Air bubbles/ fluid level
- Retracted, concave or (less often) bulging drum
Name 3 risk factors for OME
Cleft palpate, downs syndrome, cystic fibrosis, allergic rhinitis
Parental smoking, pollution
Allergies, reflux disease
Frequent URTI’s/ otitis media
Name 3 indications to refer OME to ENT?
Child has down’s/ cleft palate
Hearing loss is severe/ affecting QoL
TM structually abnormal
Persistent foul smelling discharge suggestive of cholesteatoma (should be 2ww referral)
What is the definition of a cholesteatoma?
An abnormal sac of keratinizing squamous epithelium and accumulation of keratin within the middle ear or mastoid air cell spaces which can become infected and also erode neighbouring structures
How does cholesteatoma typically present?
Persistent or recurrent discharge from the ear that is often foul smelling. An associated conductive hearing loss may also occur.
Later > Vertigo, sensorineural loss, facial nerve palsy
(NB: In a practice with 10,000 patients may only see 1 per year - rare)
Name indications for emergency and 2ww referrals for cholesteatoma?
Emergency:
- Facial nerve palsy or vertigo
- Other neurological signs consistent with intercranial abscess or meningitis
2ww:
- All other cholesteatoma’s
Name 3 possible presenting symptoms of mastoiditis?
What is the main risk factor?
Fever/ systemically unwell
Marked hearing loss
Mastoid tenderness or swelling
Headache
Discharge from ear
Main RF: Otitis media or externa (peak incidence 6-13months)
How should suspected mastoiditis be managed?
Same day admission
What are the main risk factors for perforation of the ear drum?
Infection
Injury to ear (i.e. physical trauma)
Barotrauma (pressure)
Sudden loud noise (from shock/ pressure waves)
Foreign objects
What should patients be advised regarding management of perforated ear drum?
Usually self resolves in 6-8weeks
Avoid getting wet (cotton wool ball covered in vaseline into outer ear whilst showering)
(if not healed at 2 months may need to consider surgical referral). Note ABx may be needed but avoid ototoxic ear drops.
A patient presents with subjective tinnitus - what is your differential diagnosis? (Name at least 5)
Unilateral wIth SN hearing loss:
- Meniere’s (Episodic 15min-24hrs), may have fullness in ear
- Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma). May also have vertigo
Bilateral with SN hearing loss:
- Drug induced
- Noise induced
- Age related
- Secondary to MS/ diabetes/ thyroid disease
With conductive hearing loss:
- Middle/ outer ear problem (otitis media, cholestetoma, wax)
- Otosclerosis (Fhx
Name 3 drugs which can cause tinnitus?
Aspirin
NSAIDS
Loop diuretics
Cytotoxic drugs
ABx (Gentamycin)
Name 3 indications for immediate referral (within a few hours) in tinnitus?
If tinnitus +:
- Sudden onset neurology (i.e. facial weakness)
- Acute uncontrolled vergio
- Suspect stroke
- Sudden onsent pulsatile tinnitus
- Tinnitus secondary to head trauma
Name 1 indication for very urgent referral (within 24 hours) in tinnitus?
Anyone with tinnitus and hearing loss that has developed suddenly (<3 days) within the last 30 days
Name 3 indications for urgent referral (2ww) in tinnitus?
Distress affecting mental wellbeing
Hearing loss that developed suddenly (<3days) more than 30 days ago
Hearing loss rapidly worsening (over 4-90 days)
Persistent otalgia or otorrhoea that does not resolve with tx
How should tinnitus be managed in primary care (assuming referral not indicated)
Reassure (common, can resolve by self)
Treat underlying cause (i,e. wax etc)
Review medications - stop ototoxic
Discuss sound therapy (continuous low level background sound)
Consider stepped approach to pyschological therapies
Treat depression, anxiety or insomnia
Offer hearing aids if affects ability to communicate
Name 3 risk factors for cleft palate?
Drugs: Isotretanoin, valproate, benzo’s and steroids
Materal smoking and alcohol
Genetic (parental or sibling) increases risk
Chromosomal abnormalities
How is cleft palate usually managed?
Primary lip closure at 3 months post birth
Palate closure 6-12 months
Further corrective surgery until growing complete at 18
What is the most common congenital abnormality in the neck and how does it present?
How are they managed?
Thyroglossal duct cyst
Fluctuant swelling in midline of neck, non tender, mobile
- Cyst moves up when patient protrudes tongue
Mx: USS, then CT and surgical removal
Your patient has cervical lymphadenopathy you think is related to infection. What do you advise?
Should settle within 4 weeks - if not resolved in 4 weeks to come back
Name 3 possible indications for 2ww if you find unexplained cervical lymphadenopathy?
Infection
Leukaemia (all have FBC within 48hrs)
Lymphoma (2ww if over 25yrs, 48 hour review if under 25yrs)
Lung cancer
Oral cancer (think if ulceration)
Laryngeal cancer (hoarseness)
How do you manage an unexplained persistent cervical lymphadenopathy?
If over 25yrs - 2ww
If under 25yrs - Review within 48 hours
What are the NICE 2ww criteria for laryngeal cancers?
People over 45 with:
- Persistent unexplained hoarseness
- Unexplained neck lump
What are the NICE 2ww criteria for oral cancers? (3)
Unexplained oral ulceration lasting over 3 weeks
Peristent and unexplained neck lump
By a dentist:
- Lump in lip or oral cavity
- Erythroplakia, erythroleukoplakia or leukoplakia
What is Ramsey Hunt Syndrome?
Chickenpox (Varicella zoster) becames reactivated in 7th (facial) nerve
Symptoms: Facial paralysis, loss of taste, vestibulocochlear dyfunction (vertigo/ tinnitus) and pain deep within the ear
Rash/ blisters - Skin, ear canal, auricle or both
What distinguishes shingles and Ramsey Hunt syndrome?
Shingles is a disease of sensory nerves but Ramsay Hunt syndrome is distinctive in that there is a motor component (facial nerve palsy)
What is the distinguishing features between Ramsey Hunt and Bells palsy?
Bells - no pain or rash
RH- Painful and rash
How is Ramsey Hunt syndrome managed?
HIV test etc to look for immunocompromise
Prompt anti-viral (acivlovir) and steroid (prednisolone) treatment within 72 hours
How does Bell’s palsy typically present?
Rapid (<72hr) onset of unilateral facial nerve weakness/ paralysis
Possible difficulty chewing/ dry mouth/ dry eye/ hyperacusisis
Most common 15-45yrs
How should Bell’s palsy be managed?
If presenting within 72 hours - prednisolone 50mg daily for 10 days or 60mg daily for 5 days then reduce down 10mg daily for 5 days
Thought to be caused by HSV so occasional antivirals should be used but only if specialist advice
How do you distinguish between stroke and bells palsy?
Stroke - Forehead spared
Bells - Forehead affected